Nutty about pint-sized friend

IT MAY sound nuts but a Bramhall man’s newest drinking partner is a common grey squirrel. Tony Hattersley, a regular at The Smithy pub, on Grove Lane in Cheadle Hulme, has taken to ordering a bag of nuts alongside his usual pint for Nutty, a squirrel he rescued after it fell off a friend’s roof.

FIRM FRIENDS: Tony Hattersley and Nutty have caused a stir at The Smithy

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IT MAY sound nuts but a Bramhall man’s newest drinking partner is a common grey squirrel.

Tony Hattersley, a regular at The Smithy pub, on Grove Lane in Cheadle Hulme, has taken to ordering a bag of nuts alongside his usual pint for Nutty, a squirrel he rescued after it fell off a friend’s roof.

Tony said: "Nutty is so friendly and tame, we have become quite attached. I like having him around. He comes to work with me and will sit on the headrest of my car while I drive. If I am in the shower, he will follow me in and sit on my head – he loves the water. He is great with children and has quite a reputation at the pub. He doesn’t bite, he’s very playful and the children love him. They all want a squirrel now. He even gets on with my Alsatian dog and they play together."

Nutty is barred from the inside of the pub, but is allowed in the beer garden, where he has built up quite a fan club among the punters.

Tony, 61, added: "I take him straight from work to the pub to feed him and give him some nuts. Then he has a run around in the beer garden. I understand why he isn’t allowed inside. He is classed as vermin and they don’t want a squirrel running around where they serve food. Hopefully, Nutty will gather enough strength and eventually leave, but he just keeps coming back to me."

A spokesperson for the Smithy said: "We don’t have any objections to the squirrel being in the pub, it’s hygiene regulations. But summer’s here and the squirrel and its owner are happy in the garden."